We are what
we eat, and we eat for reasons other than hunger. Some do
not get enough - and some of us eat to much. Over the past
10 -20 years obesity in the developed world has become a
disease. The sedentary lifestyle, combined with an excess of
refined foods is leading to a quarter of the population
having to compromise their lives due to the effects of
excess weight and fall into the risk of diabetes and other
dietary related problems.

The dieting
industry has a high failure rate. In our
experience diet alone seldom works. What does work is a
fundamental change in life style which includes dietary
changes. In our clinic and in conversations with customers
and colleagues, we often hear how diet programs have failed
with clients having tried several different and often
expensive programs without any significant results, or that
they were unable to adapt to the diets.

At this time
in our history we have a great choice as to what we eat and
in these pages we look at diet and why we go astray from the
healthy model.

Of course we
favour natural organically grown produce and we are
definitely opposed to genetically modified foods.

It has been
reported that cattle when put into fields of genetically
altered crops, they actually break out into fields with
heavily fertilized and chemically treated crops rather than
eat what the genetically altered.

In a
study of girls aged 9 to 15, slightly more than half
reported exercising to lose weight, slightly less than half
reported eating less to lose weight, and approximately 1 out
of 20 reported using diet pills or laxatives to lose weight.

Some foods make us well and others may cause harm.

Our bodies contain communities of organisms known as a microbiome. These
microbes in weight amount to several kilos, with most of them colonizing our
digestive tract where they help to break down and process the foods we eat.

Those who eat an animal protein based diet have high numbers of the bacterium
Bilophila wadsworthia in their gut. This bacterium feeds on the bile acids
produced by our bodies to digest saturated fats.

For those on an animal-based diet, the gut microbes got more of their energy from
breaking down proteins.

This bacterium has been implicated inflammatory bowel disease.

Meat eaters

often have a less active bowel.

Those who eat a plant-based diet have large numbers of bacteria that produce a
fatty acid called butyrate, which seems to reduce inflammation and facilitate
good health.

For those on a plant-based diet, microbes got more of their energy from
fermenting carbohydrates.

The bacterium work synergistically to maintain a healthier digestive tract.

Disclaimer:All Information is provided for
educational purposes only and not intended
to be used for any therapeutic purpose, neither is it intended to diagnose,
prevent, treat or cure any disease. Please consult a health care
professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
While attempts have been made to ensure the accuracy of this information,
The Health Information Network does not accept any responsibility for any errors or
omissions.